Moving to Poland

The academic year in Poland starts at the beginning of October. By that time, you need to start considering the following topics: 

• Accommodation,
• Purchasing a local SIM card,
• Search for a part-time job if necessary.

When travelling or living abroad, it is common to experience culture shock, especially if there are vast cultural differences and a language barrier. 

Prepare for your trip by reading books about the culture, travel guidebooks, and popular websites or newspapers relevant to life in Poland. If there is a language barrier, take language classes or seek out a tutor to make your transition period easier. Do not hide in your room and only hang out with friends from your country. Get out of your comfort zone and explore popular cultural sites in Poland. 

According to a survey conducted in 2021/2022, the most liveable cities in Poland are Gdynia, Gdańsk, Zielona Góra, Tychy, Bielsko-Biała, Szczecin, Rzeszów, Katowice, Poznań, and Kraków.

Student visa and immigration

No visa is needed for EU/EEA students. EU citizens need to register with the Voivodship (Provincial) Office for stays longer than three months.

Accommodation 

There are mainly two different options for arranging student accommodation in Poland.

• Student houses and dormitories: between 60-80 € monthly for a shared room, 100-150 € for a single room.
• Private housing: between 150-200 € monthly for a shared students flat, one-room apartments start about 300 € (the cost varies between cities, and it depends greatly on the location of the apartment as well as the size and quality of the room).

Cost of living in Poland

Living in Poland as a student is relatively affordable compared to other European Union countries but can vary greatly between different cities. Some popular cities for study destinations in Poland are Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Poznan, Lodz, and Katowice.

Average living costs in Poland are within the range of 400-800 €.

Health insurance

Healthcare in Poland is available for students from EU/EEA countries, provided that they hold valid medical insurance in the national insurance system of their country. A valid passport, student identity card or doctoral student identity card and a valid European Health Insurance Card (Europejska Karta Ubezpieczenia Zdrowotnego) entitles its holder to medical care free of charge in Poland. Detailed information on the health care for EU/EEA citizens can be found on the website of the National Health Fund. 

Transportation

Most Polish cities have well-developed networks of public transport. Depending on the city, they include buses, trams, trolleybuses, trains, and underground trains. It is usually a good idea to buy a long-term ticket, as it’s hard to avoid public transport.

Before buying a long-term ticket, it is necessary to register ourselves in the city transportation office. They will offer you two options, whether to make a new public transportation card or integrating your student ID card in their ticketing system.

The cities also provide an integrated rental bike system (usually through nextbike's mobile application) to help you get around to the places which are not accessible with public transportation.

Polish national train operator, PKP Intercity, offers various types of trains that you can choose based on their price range and facilities.

Leisure

Poland offers a rich and diverse leisure experience, blending its varied natural landscapes with a wide array of activities and events:

• Mountains & Lowlands (hiking, skiing, winter trekking, horse riding, etc.),
• Seaside (sailing, canoeing, swimming, kite- and windsurfing, beach volleyball, etc.),
• Lakes (swimming, fishing windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, rowing, water skiing, skateboarding, etc.),
• Film & Music festivals (annual film festivals, music festivals, art festivals, etc.).

More information here. 

Work

The Polish economy is becoming more competitive and socially responsible and is rated as the 6th economy in the European Union.

EU/EEA citizens and holders of the Card of the Pole do not need a work permit at all. There are many jobs that do not require the knowledge of Polish language; however, it is always better to have a basic understanding of this language.

Almost every university in Poland has a career office. The Career Development Office assists students and graduates in finding them a suitable place on the labour market.

Tips to find a (student) job in Poland:

1. Start early – some companies recruit interns a year in advance,
2. Create a CV,
3. Update your LinkedIn profile,
4. Contact your university’s career centre,
5. Email companies directly,
6. Expand your network.

Internships

Having an internship gives you experience in the career field you want to pursue. Not only does this give individuals an edge over other candidates when applying for jobs, it also prepares you for what to expect in their field and increases confidence in their work.

Most of the internships in Poland are paid. You can find internships on the previously shared job boards.

Student card

The student card does not only confirm your student status, but it also entitles you to all kinds of student discounts.

Student card allows you to access HEIs facilities such as a library, sports centre, entrance to the dormitory, etc. Furthermore, it provides up to 50% discount on public transportation allowing you to travel all around the country for less. The discount is also applied to other attractions such as the museum, amusement parks, historical places, public swimming pool, as well as theatres, cinemas, even restaurants.

Students with special needs

Access to higher education with disabilities

Polish Universities and HEIs provide help and support to students with disabilities and other needs (health, psychological) both in matters related to education and integration in the academic environment. The first point of contact is usually the Office for Persons with Disabilities/Accessibility Services at each university, either through appointment, phone, or email.